12 actresses who could raid tombs as the new Lara Croft

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With the news that the film rights to Tomb Raider—the flick that made Angelina Jolie a big, honking movie star—have just been picked up and that an origin story-reboot is in the works, we started thinking about who could strap on the pistols.

We're not sure just how far back into adventuress Lara Croft's history this new reboot will go. All that the press release from Graham King's GK Films (The Departed) says is that, after acquiring the rights from videogame company Eidos, they want to "create daring new adventures for the young and dynamic Lara Croft."

But who could play that young Lara, who'll grace screens in 2013? Well, we've got some ideas.

Olivia Wilde

Credits: Tron: Legacy, House M.D., Cowboys & Aliens

On the strength of Tron, she seems to be the go-to genre girl—we'll wait to see if Cowboys & Aliens gives her a little more to do than simply look stunning before rendering judgment.

Mila Kunis

Credits: Black Swan, The Book of Eli, Forgetting Sarah Marshall

The only real question about this comedienne, who showed what she was capable of in Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan and ably toted firearms in Eli and Max Payne, is "Can she rock a convincing British accent?"

Summer Glau

Credits: Firefly, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, The Cape

She's got plenty of action-derring-do experience as well as the porcelain-fine features that can convey a life of rarefied privilege, but will the powers that be deem her ready to be the anchor of a massive franchise?

Emma Watson

Credits: The Harry Potter films, The Tale of Despereaux

Watson had voiced a desire to back away from acting to focus on, you know, a real life, but if she reverses her decision then it's entirely possible she could dig into this role with gusto. And she knows a thing or two about special-effects filmmaking.

Scarlett Johansson

Credits: Iron Man 2, The Prestige, The Avengers

You know she's gonna get the call. And you know that she's at the top of the list. It's hers to decline, really. Get over it.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Credits: Undercovers, Doctor Who, MI-5

She's a virtual unknown in the States—and J.J. Abrams' terminally unseen Undercovers didn't really help—so it'd be an uphill battle to land this role. But she's got the raw beauty, the upper-crust bearing and the posh accent to pull it off.

Chloe Moretz

Credits: Kick-Ass, Let Me In, Hugo Cabret

She's very young—14 years old—so unless this is going to be a super-duper origin story, it might be a bit of a stretch. But she was the most kick-ass part of Kick-Ass—and she's not gonna be a kid forever. Building a franchise around her wouldn't be the worst idea in the world.

Saoirse Ronan

Credits: Atonement, The Lovely Bones, Hanna

Will playing a teenage assassin in the upcoming Hanna be the training this Oscar nominee needs to step into Lara's rugged boots? Perhaps. And will you look at those eyes?

Anna Kendrick

Credits: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Up in the Air, Twilight

She held her own against George Clooney, is the second-youngest actress to ever get a Tony nomination, and killed it in Scott Pilgrim. 'Nuff said.

Evan Rachel Wood

Credits: True Blood, The Wrestler, Thirteen

Wood has got the imperious thing down pat, given her role as the Vampire Queen of Louisiana in HBO's True Blood. And she's got a black belt in tae kwon do. And used to date Marilyn Manson. Not that it matters, other than it shows she's got experience with the unknown.

Yvonne Strahovski

Credits: Chuck, Mass Effect 2

Yeah, there's no way she could pull this off. Absolutely not. She's got no experience whatsoever doing accents, shooting guys, kicking men in the face, playing videogame characters, or looking good while doing so.

Bonnie Wright

Credits: The Harry Potter films

The former future Mrs. Harry Potter got kinda hot as the Potter films progressed. It's unknown if she's got the required steel to play Lara Croft, but she'd be an interesting choice.